Planetary sanding head with variable diameters

ABSTRACT

A planetary disk style rotary sander is provided that includes a plurality of planetary-style sanding head units attached to the sander. The sanding head units described herein preferably have multiple diameters. As a result, some of the head units may be located closer to the center of the sander than others.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/837,387, filed on Apr. 23, 2019, entitled “PLANETARY SANDING HEAD WITH VARIABLE DIAMETERS” currently pending, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention refers generally to sanding head units used in association with a sander for sanding wood, or other floor surfaces. More specifically, the invention refers to planetary sanding head units having variable diameters to increase sanding efficiency.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, hardwood floors are sanded with one or more of three different types of electrically powered machines: rotary, cylindrical, and orbital sanding machines (sanders). Rotary machines are commonly used in sequence after cylindrical sanders, and they are often used near edges for detail work. Cylindrical sanders are the most productive and aggressive of sanding machines. Orbital machines are most commonly used when minimal abrasion is required or when inexperienced operators are utilizing the sanders. The invention herein relates to a rotary machine.

An example of a prior art rotary sander 5 is provided in FIG. 1. The rotary sander 5 includes a motor 10 that may be used to rotate a sanding head unit 15 to perform a sanding function. The sanding head unit 15 may be attached to the body of the rotary sander 5 via a fixed surface 20. The fixed surface 20 is illustrated as a circular structure that extends downwardly from the motor 10 to accommodate the generally circular head unit 15, though other shapes are used from time to time. Most often, the head units such as the head unit 15 are provided as a single large head unit that matches the diameter of the machine (and the fixed surface 20), such as the machine 5. The most common sizes of single head units like the head units 15 are sixteen, seventeen, and twenty inches. However, as described above, other sizes are available and possible.

In at least one alternative embodiment that is utilized, the rotary sander 5 may be formed as a plurality of sanding head units in a “planetary” arrangement. Planetary disk sanders are common in the marketplace and can be used on substrates other than wood. Such an arrangement of a sander with planetary style head units 25 is illustrated in FIG. 2. The sanding head units 25 each independently rotate on their own rotational axis to sand a surface. Furthermore, each of the illustrated sanding head units 25 are the same size, having the same diameter. Each sanding head unit 25 is also equally spaced from adjacent sanding head units 25 to form an outer circumference 30. As shown in the example embodiment of FIG. 2, the circumference 30 formed around the head units 25 is uniform. Put another way, the distance between any two head units 25 directly across from one another (referred to herein as a diameter) is consistent around the circumference of the unit. For example, the diameters between head units 25A and 25B, and head units 25C and 25D, respectively, are equal to one another.

The challenge typically faced with planetary-style disks is that the power required to effectively utilize them can be taxing on the machine driving them and the electrical supply of the residence or building in which they are being used. Most 120V circuit breakers are either rated for fifteen (15) amps or twenty (20) amps and are connected to multiple outlets. Each of those outlets may further have more than one electrical device connected to them, limiting the amount of current available to provide power to a sanding machine. This may force an operator to remove weight from the machine to make it less aggressive, use generators with a dedicated power supply, or switch to a larger, more powerful machine that is more expensive and operates on higher voltage. It is therefore desirable for a planetary disk to be more efficient so that less time and total electricity is used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A planetary disk style rotary sander is provided that includes a plurality of planetary-style sanding head units attached to the sander. The plurality of sanding head units are preferably the same size and the same shape as one another, though in some embodiments the shapes and sizes of the head units may vary. Unlike prior art planetary sanding head units, however, the sanding head units described herein preferably have multiple diameters. As such, the head units may be attached to the sander so that some of the sanding head units are located closer to the center of the sander than others.

A first group of sanding head units preferably forms a first inner, smaller circumference, while a second group of sanding head units forms a second outer, larger circumference. The first and second groups of sanding head units are therefore offset from one another, creating variable diameters or circumferences. This may be achieved by fixing the first group of sanding head units around the inner circumference and the second group of sanding head units around the outer circumference. In some embodiments, however, the sanding head units may be placed at more than two different circumferences, and the individual sanding head units (even within the same circumference) may take on different sizes relative to one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the various embodiments of the present invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a prior art rotary sander;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of a prior art planetary sanding head with an annotated circumference;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of a planetary sanding head with variable diameters in accordance with the teachings of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the planetary sanding head with variable diameters of FIG. 3 with annotated circumferences.

While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

FIG. 3 illustrates a planetary sanding head 105 that may be attached to a rotary sander (not illustrated) like the sander 5 of FIG. 1 by a fixed surface 110. The fixed surface 110 may include a base 115, which may be circular or a semi-cone shape member that is adjacent to and abuts a motor (not illustrated). The base 115 preferably includes a first end (not illustrated) and a second end 118 where the base 115 may taper outwardly from the first end to the second end 118. The base 115 therefore may have a greater diameter at its second end 118 than at its first end. In alternative embodiments, the first end and the second end 118 may have the same diameter.

The fixed surface 110 may further include an attachment member 120 located and positioned at the second end 118 of the base 115. In one embodiment, the attachment member 120 may be a planar annular ring that circumscribes the second end 118 of the base 115. The attachment member 120 may support a plurality of sanding head units 125. The sanding head units 125 may be soldered, screwed, or otherwise engaged with the attachment member 120, or integrally formed therewith.

Each sanding head unit 125 may include a first face (not illustrated) and a second face 128 located and positioned opposite from the first face. The first face of each sanding head unit 125 is preferably attached to or otherwise engaged with the attachment member 120. The second face 128 may be used to sand a desired surface. In the current embodiment, each sanding head unit 125 has the same diameter and a uniform size with the rest of the sanding head units 125. In alternative embodiments, however, the sanding head units may include multiple sizes.

In the current embodiment (as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4), the planetary sanding head 105 includes six sanding head units 125. Three of the sanding head units 125A, 125B, and 125C have been move inwardly so as to form an inner circumference 130 with an effective diameter of 18 inches. The remaining sanding head units 125D, 125E, and 125F preferably form an outer circumference 135 with an effective diameter of 20 inches. The resultant effective average diameter of the illustrated sanding head units 125 is 19 inches.

Like the prior art sanding head units 25, each of the sanding head units 125 independently rotates on its own individual rotational axis (not illustrated). However, in at least one embodiment, unlike prior art sanding head units 25, some of the sanding head units 125 may rotate in a first direction while others rotate in a second direction. In one embodiment, the sanding head units 125A, 125B, and 125C located at the inner circumference 130 rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, and the sanding head units 125D, 125E, and 125F with the outer circumference 135 rotate in a clockwise direction. In some embodiments, this may be switched, and in yet other embodiments all the sanding head units 125 may rotate in the same direction. In yet another alternative embodiment, the sanding head units 125 may be individually controllable to rotate in specifically programmed directions.

In alternative embodiments, a smaller inner circumference and/or greater outer circumference may be provided. Similarly, more or fewer sanding head units 125 may be provided. In yet another alternative embodiment, the sanding head units 125 may not be alternatingly offset, but may have one or more adjacent sanding head units 125 moved inwardly or outwardly so that the sanding head units 125 are still offset, but not necessarily in an alternating pattern. The planetary sanding head 105 may also have additional sanding head units 125 moved inwardly or outwardly to create more than two effective diameters.

The effective diameter of the sanding head units 125 and the work or power required to rotate the head units 125 is proportional, but non-linear. Thus, the offset sanding head units 125 reduce energy consumption and reduce the likelihood of tripping breakers. The reduced energy consumption provides more flexibility in choosing outlets and also reduces the likelihood of having to use dedicated power generators.

In addition for using the described planetary sanding head 105 for sanding hardwood floors powered with 120V AC, the planetary sanding head 105 may also be powered by alternate voltages, battery or batteries (DC powered), and/or with internal combustion engines. In addition to being used with hardwood floors, the planetary sanding head with variable diameter 105 be used with other substrates, such has concrete, stone, terrazzo, or vinyl composition tile. The planetary sanding head 105 may also be used with other processes including but not limited to grinding, polishing, coating removal, scrubbing, and burnishing.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the various embodiments of the present invention are well adapted to attain all the objectives and advantages hereinabove set forth together with still other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the present structures. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations of the present embodiments are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. Since many possible embodiments of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is also to be understood that all disclosures herein set forth or illustrated in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative only and not limiting. The various constructions described above and illustrated in the drawings are presented by way of example only and are not intended to limit the concepts, principles and scope of the present invention.

Many changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the present invention will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. All such changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention are deemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by the claims which follow. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A rotary sander including a sanding head, the sanding head comprising: at least one first head unit located at a first distance from a center of the sanding head; and at least one second head unit located at a second distance from the center of the sanding head.
 2. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the sanding head includes two first head units at the first distance from the center of the sanding head.
 3. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the sanding head includes two second head units at the second distance from the center of the sanding head.
 4. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein sanding head includes an at least one third head unit located at a third distance from the center of the sanding head.
 5. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the at least one first head unit and the at least one second head unit are each independently rotatable.
 6. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the first distance is less than 10 inches.
 7. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the second distance is at least 10 inches.
 8. The rotary sander of claim 1, wherein the at least one first head unit and the at least one second head unit are circular in shape.
 9. A rotary sander for sanding a surface, the rotary sander comprising: a sanding head having a first circumference and a second circumference; at least one first head unit attached to the sanding head at the first circumference; and at least one second head unit attached to the sanding head at the second circumference.
 10. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the sanding head includes two first head units attached to the sanding head at the first circumference.
 11. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the sanding head includes two second head units attached to the sanding head at the second circumference.
 12. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the sanding head includes three first head units attached to the sanding head at the first circumference.
 13. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the sanding head includes three second head units attached to the sanding head at the second circumference.
 14. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the at least one first head unit and the at least one second head unit are each independently rotatable.
 15. The rotary sander of claim 9, wherein the at least one first head unit and the at least one second head unit are circular in shape.
 16. A rotary sander for sanding a surface, the rotary sander comprising: a sanding head; two or more first head units attached to the sanding head; two or more second head units attached to the sanding head; wherein the two or more first head units lie in a first circumference; and wherein the two or more second head units lie in a second circumference that is concentric relative to the first circumference.
 17. The rotary sander of claim 16, wherein the sanding head includes three first head units attached to the sanding head at the first circumference.
 18. The rotary sander of claim 16, wherein the sanding head includes three second head units attached to the sanding head at the second circumference.
 19. The rotary sander of claim 16, wherein the two or more first head units and the two or more second head units are each independently rotatable.
 20. The rotary sander of claim 16, wherein the two or more first head units and the two or more second head units are circular in shape. 